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These shared houses, often containing students, are known as
HMOs - Houses in Multiple Occupancy.
Richard
Tyler from the Leeds HMO Lobby says: "We are looking for three things
from a HMO licensing scheme.
"Firstly
a clear definition of what a HMO is, at the moment there is no clear
definition.
"Secondly
we want to limit extensions built on properties by landlords. If
they were licensed the planning could be controlled.
"Finally
we want the local authority to have the option of refusing a licence
if there are already too many shared houses in one area."
Distribution
of students
Many of the students in Leeds are concentrated in as few areas
of the city most notably Headingley, Hyde Park and Burley.
Richard
Tyler is aware of the clustering.
"The problem with the universities is that they are expanding and
have doubled the number of students in the past 10 years.
"
The problem with this is that students are temporary and only just
learning how to be responsible so they don’t take as much care of
the area as long term residents do.
"This
is not the students' fault, it is the universities that cause problems
by introducing too many students into a small area.
They did not recognize this was a problem until a year ago, then
they organised a community strategy and appointed a community liaison
officer, who does a good job, but more needs to be done to distribute
students."
To
Let signs
The To Let signs cluttering Headingley's streets are another
eyesore that the HMO lobby want solving:
"Our
aim is to get a sign-free area. The council should to the government
for planning permission to be put on To Let signs so that the council
can refuse permission to put them up."
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